The Swedish mobile phone company Ericsson has developed a system to ensure data integrity in the cloud using the blockchain.

Erik Forsgren, Director of Portfolio Management, said the system had been running since January and had been developed in cooperation with Startup Guardtime (focus on data security).

After bitter setbacks in the past, the long-established mobile communications company Ericsson is now trying to gain a foothold in the cloud technology sector, among other things, in order to finally return to a growth course.

Bitcoin news: Ericsson is not alone with the idea of working on data integrity and security

Many startups and independent developers have long been concerned with how data integrity can be represented using the Bitcoin news blockchain and other applications like this: http://www.onlinebetrug.de/en/bitcoin-news-trader

Forsgren explains that when using the system, fingerprints are left in the form of data. These fingerprints are used to leave a timestamp each time the system changes, while at the same time enabling a high process speed. Every piece of information, no matter when and how often it has been changed, should be traceable.

So he says:

“We operate a global blockchain infrastructure. It is a private blockchain that a company can use at any time to manage data. Any kind of data can be verified and stored on this blockchain.”

What Ericsson and Guardtime call a blockchain is not a blockchain in the sense of Bitcoin. The core element, as both companies call it, is the so-called “Keyless Signature Infrastructure”. The Estonian government, which is considered a pioneer in e-governance, has already announced its interest in the technology.

Forsgen adds that not all the data is transformed into the blockchain, but only fingerprints of the data are created.

Ericsson Blockchain Targets Traffic

According to Ericsson, the technology’s greatest potential lies in application cases that must be based on security-relevant data in real time. After all, data security and integrity must be guaranteed despite increasing networking.

Forsgen cites a networked car in an “Internet of Things network structure” as an example. This car must be able to quickly evaluate the accuracy of various data. This is precisely where the blockchain could help to ensure the integrity of the on-board computer and prevent its manipulation.

In addition, every company that provides the software and coding for the car has an interest in carrying out when and where it is used or installed in order to carry out appropriate updates.

According to Forsgren, the blockchain would also help to register all stakeholders involved in the production and management of the software.

“As soon as the software is developed, it must be ensured that the entire value chain can be traced up to the final installation in the car. After all, motorists must be able to rely on the fact that all data can be verified in real time.”

This also applies to the receipt and storage of information in the car itself.

“It must be guaranteed that the data in the car is correct and cannot be manipulated by the owner or anyone else. It is particularly important to be able to rely on the accuracy of the data in the event of disputes or insurance claims”.

It is not the Bitcoin Blockchain
As already mentioned, the blockchain, based on the “Keyless Signature Infrastructure”, deviates strongly from the Bitcoin blockchain. Ericsson’s Cloud Services and Platforms Director, Martin Frojd, explains the blockchain as follows:

“We don’t collect customer data in our blocks, but fingerprints of data mathematically linked to the previous hash in the hash tree. This has the advantage that, on the one hand, we enable high efficiency and, on the other hand, we ensure that the customer data remains private and not accessible to everyone”.